Novelty clock



July 26, 1966 D. B. POYNTER 3,262,258

NOVELTY CLOCK Filed Aug. 5, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DONALD B. POYNT ER ATT R EY 1 July 26, 1966 D- B. POYNTER NOVELTY CLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 5, 1964 INVENTOR DONALD B. POYNTER July 26, 1966 D. B. POYNTER 3,262,258

NOVELTY CLOCK Filed Aug. 5, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E I I i 80 44 :i I i 42 INVENTOR. DONALD B. POYNTER United States Patent 3,262,258 NOVELTY CLOCK Donald B. Poynter, 7 Arcadia Place, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 387,113

17 Claims. (Cl. 58-2) This invention relates to a novelty clock or time-piece, having entertainment features as well as features of utility.

An object of the invention is to provide a clock having a case of flexible material, whereby the clock as a whole may be bent, twisted, draped over a supporting ledge, or otherwise subjected to unusual conditions or environments, and still perform the service of keeping time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clock of the character stated, the case of which is flexible and impervious to dirt and moisture, and therefore subject to minimal servicing requirements.

A further object is to provide a clock having the characteristics aforesaid, which may be manufactured and assembled very inexpensively, and which may be handled and shipped in ordinary containers such as cardboard boxes, without undue risk of injury or defacement of the clock packaged therein.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the clock embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flexible clock draped over an edge of a table or supporting ledge.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clock in a twisted condition.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear elevation of the clock, with case omitted.

FIG. 6 is an exploded side elevational view.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the face panel and associated case parts.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, with certain parts of the case assembled.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-section of the assembled clock.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 1tl10 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmental enlarged cross-section taken on line 1212 of FIG. 1.

In the simple form illustrated by the drawings, the face panel of the clock, the hands, and the case parts, are formed of flexible sheet materials such as will permit bending or twisting thereof as exemplified by FIGS. 3 and 4. Vinyl, rubber, polyethylene, and equivalent substances are examples of materials that may be employed in constructing the clock; and various other substances suitable for the purpose will suggest themselves to persons conversant with the art of plastics generally.

The reference numeral 16 indicates a face panel of flexible sheet material which preferably is substantially opaque, the panel being apertured centrally at 18 to accommodate the hour-hand shaft 20 and the minute-hand shaft 22, which shafts carry the hour-hand 24 and the minute-hand 26, respectively. The shafts are concentric with one another, as is usual, and are geared to rotate the hands at 12:1 ratio, with the hands sweeping that area of the face panel which carries the time numerals 28. The hands are of flexible sheet material, and may be riveted or otherwise suitably fixed to rigid carrier discs and 32 which rotate with shafts 20 and 22, respectively.

Against the rear surface of face panel 16 is butted a shallow gear box or unit 34, from which the shafts 20 and 3,262,258 Patented July 26, 1966 "ice - 22 project. At one side of the gear box is a driving stud 36, which upon being rotated by means of a motor-driven flexible shaft or cable 38, drives the hands of the clock at 12:1 ratio. The gear box carries a setting stem 40, which extends rearwardly therefrom and is normally accessible at the back of the clock case, for setting the hands to correct time independently of the drive transmitted through flexible member 38.

At the upper edge of face panel 16 is provided means for suspending the panel from a hollow housing 42, the latter being formed preferably of a rigid material such as metal, hard plastic, or the like, suitable for protectively enclosing a synchronous electric motor 44. Housing 42 may be formed in simulation of a winder knob of a large pocket watch, and may carry the customary guard loop 46. Motor 44 has a rotor shaft 48 directed toward gear box 34, and to said shaft is connected one end of the flexible drive member 38. The motor accordingly drives the gear box and hands 24, 26, through the intermediary of flexible drive member 38, which latter may be simply a length of coiled spring having opposite ends to drivingly embrace the rotor shaft and the gear box stud shaft. Drive member 38 may serve to preclude bodily rotation of gear box 34 relative to the face panel 16, or if preferred, the gear box may be fixedly secured to face panel V 16 in any suitable manner, such as by means of metallic clips, adhesive tape, or the like.

Face panel 16 may carry an upper tab 50, perforated to receive the upright screws 52, 52, of a rigid reinforcing plate 54 whereby the panel may be suspended from motor housing 42. Screws 52, as most clearly shown by FIG. 10, may be used to clamp tab securely to a rigid neck member 56 of housing 42. The same screws may function also to anchor the clock case to housing 42, as will be explained.

The case of the clock may comprise two rim members 60 and 62 performed of flexible vinyl or equivalent material, said members being of open ring shape as shown.

Each rim member has an outer circumferential edge portion 64, one adapted to coincide with the other in assembling the case. The edge portions of the rims, in final assembly, are joined to one another (FIG. 9), leaving the face panel 16 free for movement between the rims. Each rim may be formed with a slight convexity as shown, to provide ample space between them for shifting movement of face panel 16.

The inner edge portion 66 of rim 60 provides a continuous seat 68 coextensive with the rim, for supporting a flexible clear-plastic disc 70 that performs as a lens for the clock face. The outer marginal edge of lens 70 is to be permanently secured upon seat 68, with the lens covering the face of the clock.

Rim 62 may be similar to rim 60, having a continuous annular seat 72 upon which is permanently secured the outer marginal portion 74 of a back panel 76. The back panel is of flexible vinyl or equivalent material, and may have a central aperture at 78 to permit setting-stem 40 to extend through, for setting the hands. The back panel may be opaque, by preference, to conceal the operating mechanism of the clock. If desired, the back panel 76 and the back rim 62 may be formed initially as one piece, The back enclosure for the clock, however, may desirably be of lighter gauge material than the rims.

Reverting to FIGS. 10 and 2, it is apparent that the rims 60 and 62 are circumferentially joined completely about the clock case, so that screws 52 will pass through the connected rims and secure them between neck56 and inner plate 54, along with tab 50. The reference character 80 indicates an electric cord for supplying operating current to the synchronous motor 44. The motor is rigidly supported within housing 42.

In view of the flexible nature of the clock case, the

aaeaaas a hands of the clock, and the drive member 33, it should readily be appreciated that the hands will be driven to indicate time notwithstanding a bent or twisted condition of the case, FIGS. 3 and 4, for example. The case may he of any size or shape, and may be decorated or embellished in various ways to enhance the attractiveness of the clock as a whole. Parts such as the panels 16- and 76, and rims 60 and 62, may easily be embossed and thereby rendered very attractive, in the course of initial molding or pressing of these parts. The parts also may be tinted in the course of manufacture, with substantial savings of time, labor and expense.

Assembly of the case may be performed in various ways, as by means of heat, adhesives, or electrostatic fusing of the parts, thereby to achieve rapid and inexpensive production.

The device of the invention possesses unusual appeal as a novelty item, while performing also the utilitarian function of indicating time. As the material constituting the case is substantially impervious to atmospheric elements, the device may be relied upon to render trouble-free service throughout an extended period of time.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible clock including therewith means for moving the hands of the clock, said clock having a flexible face panel having at least the twelve hour indicators thereon and properly spaced therearound and of a material having pronounced flexibility such that the panel will bend freely of its own weight when a portion of the area thereof overhangs an edge of a supporting ledge or the like, the said hands of the clock including a flexible hour hand, a flexible minute hand, means supporting said hands in position to sweep the said face of the panel, said moving means including a motor in operative connection with and for moving the hands in proper sweeping relation to said face of the panel, said flexible hour and minute hands being of a material such that they will operate when the said panel is in said bent condition.

2. The clock as set forth in claim 1, wherein the combination includes: a hollow case substantially enveloping the hands and the face panel, said case including a transparent lens through which the hands and a portion of the face panel are exposed to view, said case and lens each being formed of a material having flexibility such that the case and the lens will bend of their own weight when a portion of the area thereof overhangs an edge of a supporting ledge.

3. A clock comprising in combination: a face panel of flexible material, a flexible hour hand, a flexible minute hand, and a flexible substantially flat hollow case comprising front and back sections enveloping the face panel and the hands aforesaid, means for supporting and moving said hands in posit-ion to sweep one face of the face panel while enclosed by the case, a flexible transparent lens carried by said front section and through which the hands and a portion of the face panel swept thereby are exposed to view, the flexibility of said case, lens, and face panel being pronounced to the extent that said case, lens, and face panel will bend freely of their own weight when partially overhanging an edge of a supporting ledge.

4. The clock as set forth in claim 3, wherein the combination includes means for attaching a limited edge portion of the face panel to the case, leaving the major edge portion of the face panel free to shift within the interior of the hollow case.

5. A clock structure comprising in combination: a flexi- 'ble face panel apertured substantially centrally thereof,

said face panel having front and rear faces and a bounding margin-a1 edge portion, a flexible hour hand, a flexible minute hand, and a flexible substantially flat hollow case enveloping the face panel and the hands aforesaid, the

case including a flexible transparent front wall overlying the front face of the face panel, and a flexible substantially opaque rear wall overlying the rear face of the face panel, a rigid hollow protective housing, and means fixing said housing to the casing and to a limited portion of the face panel margin, whereby the case and the face panel are suspended from the rigid housing, a gear unit in abutment against the rear face of the face panel, and disposed between said rear face and the rear wall of the case, said gear unit including an hour hand supporting shaft and a minute hand supporting shaft projecting through the face panel aperture to the front face of said panel, means securing the hands to said shafts individually in position to sweep the front face of the face panel upon rotation of said shafts, a driving motor within the rigid hollow protective housing, said motor including a rotor shaft, a stud shaft on the gear unit and means associated with said unit for transmitting rotation of the stud shaft to the minute and hour hand supporting shafts, and a flexible elongate motion transmission member having opposite ends drivingly connected to the rotor shaft and to the stud shaft, respectively.

6. The clock structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the flexibility of the face panel, and that of the walls of the enclosing case, is pronounced to the extent that said face panel and case walls will bend freely of their own weight when partially overhanging an edge of a supporting ledge.

7. A clock structure comprising in combination, a flexible substantially opaque face panel apertured substantially centrally thereof, said face panel having front and rear faces and a bounding marginal edge portion, a flexible hour hand, .a flexible minute hand, and a flexible substantially flat hollow case enveloping the face panel and the hands aforesaid, the case including a flexible transparent front wall overlying the front face of the face panel, and a flexible substantially opaque rear wall overlying the rear face of the face panel, a rigid hollow motor housing, and means for suspending the flexible casing from said housing, means precluding rotation of the face panel within the flexible case, a gear unit located between the rear wall of the case and the rear face of the face panel, said gear unit including a driving stud shaft, an hour hand supporting shaft, a minute hand supporting shaft, and means for transmitting rotation of the driving stud shaft to the last-mentioned hand supporting shafts, said hand supporting shafts being projected through the face panel aperture to the front face of said panel, means fixing the hands to said hand supporting shafts individually in position to sweep the front face of the face panel upon rotation of said hand supporting shafts, a driving motor Within the rigid hollow motor housing, said motor including a rotor shaft, and a flexible elongate motion transmission member having opposite ends drivingly connected to the rotor shaft and to the stud shaft, respectively.

8. The clock structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein the flexibility of the face panel, and of the case walls, is pronounced to the extent that said face panel and case walls will bend freely of their own weight when partially overhanging an edge of a supporting ledge.

9. The clock structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein the flexible elongate motion transmission member constitutes a principal means of precluding rotation of the gear box relative to the face panel.

10. A flexible clock structure comprising in combination, a face panel apertured substantially centrally thereof, an hour hand, a minute hand, and a substantially flat hollow flexible clock case, said case being of a material having flexibility such that the case will bend of its own weight when a portion of the area thereof overhangs an edge of a supporting ledge or the like, said case enveloping the face panel and the hands aforesaid, the case including a flexible rear wall, and a transparent flexible front wall exposing the face panel to view, a rigid hollow housing exterior to the case, and including means for suspending the case therefrom, a driving motor within said exterior housing and including a rotor shaft, a gear unit located between the face panel and the rear wall of the case, said gear unit including a driving stud shaft, an hour hand supporting shaft, a minute hand supporting shaft, and means for transmitting rotation of the stud shaft to both hand supporting shafts, said hand supporting shafts being projected through the face panel aperture toward the transparent front wall of the clock case, means fixing the hands to said hand supporting shafts individually in position to sweep one face of the face panel upon rotation of said hand supporting shafts, and a flexible elongate motion transmission member having opposite ends drivingly connected to the stud shaft of the gear unit, and to the rotor shaft of the motor located within the exterior hollow housing aforesaid.

11. The clock structure as set forth in claim wherein the exterior rigid housing for the driving motor is shaped in simulation of a pocket-watch winding stem.

12. A clock structure comprising in combination, a face panel, a movable time indicator, and a substantially flat hollow flexible clock case, said case being of a material having flexibility such that the case will bend of its own weight when a portion of the area thereof overhangs an edge of a supporting ledge or the like, said case enveloping the flexible face panel and said indicator, the case including a flexible rear wall, and a transparent flexible front Wall exposing the face panel to fVlCW, means supporting the time indicator to sweep that area of the face panel which is exposed through the transparent front wall of the case, a rigid hollow housing exterior to the case, and including means for suspending the case therefrom, a driving motor enclosed within said exterior housing, said driving motor including a rotor shaft, and a flexible elongate motion transmission member drivingly connecting the rotor shaft to the time indicator, for moving said indicator to sweep the exposed area of the face panel.

13. The clock structure as set forth in claim 12, wherein the combination includes means accessible at the rear Wall of the clock case, for manually setting the time indicator independently of operation of the driving motor.

14. The clock structure as set forth in claim 12, wherein the time indicator is in the form of an elongate laterally flexible hand, and the clock case and the face panel are flexible to the extent that the case and panel assembly Will bend freely of their own Weight, when the assembly partially overhangs an edge of a supporting surface.

15. A clock case comprising in combination: a pair of flexible ring-shaped rims each having a peripheral outer edge portion and an inner edge portion, the outer edge portions being joined to one another, a flexible back panel having an outer edge portion fixed upon the inner edge portion of one rim in overlapping relationship, a flexible transparent lens member having an outer edge portion fixed upon the inner edge portion of the remaining rim in overlapping relationship, said rims, said back panel, and said lens member being flexible to the extent that the assembly will bend freely of its own weight, When the assembly partially overhangs an edge of a supporting surface.

16. A clock case comprising in combination, a flexible ring-shaped rim having a peripheral outer edge portion and an inner edge portion, a flexible back member having an outer edge portion joined to the outer edge portion of the rim, and a flexible transparent lens member having an outer edge portion fixed to the inner edge portion of the trim, to provide a unitary assembly, said case members being of a material having flexibility such that the case will bend of its own weight when a portion of the area thereof overhangs an edge of a supporting ledge or the like.

17. A clock case as set forth in claim 16, wherein the constituents of the assembly are flexible to the extent that the assembly will bend freely of its own weight, when the assembly partially overhangs an edge of a supporting surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 366,683 7/1887 Pennington. 2,065,491 12/1936 Harm 58-2 3,004,358 10/1961 Clark 58-2 X FOREIGN PATENTS 70,287 2/1866 France. 314,965 8/ 1956 Switzerland.

LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. LEO SMILOW, Examiner. GERALD F. BAKER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLEXIBLE CLOCK INCLUDING THEREWITH MEANS FOR MOVING THE HANDS OF THE CLOCK, SAID CLOCK HAVING A FLEXIBLE FACE PANEL HAVING AT LEAST THE TWELVE HOUR INDICATORS THEREON AND PROPERLY SPACED THEREAROUND AND OF A MATERIAL HAVING PRONOUNCED FLEXIBILITY SUCH THAT THE PANEL WILL BEND FREELY OF ITS OWN WEIGHT WHEN A PORTION OF THE AREA THEREOF OVERHANGS AN EDGE OF A SUPPORTING LEDGE OR THE LIKE, THE SAID HANDS OF THE CLOCK INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE HOUR HANDS, A FLEXIBLE MINUTE HAND, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID HANDS IN POSITION TO SWEEP THE SAID FACE OF THE PANEL, SAID MOVING MEANS INCLUDING A MOTOR IN OPERATIVE CONNECTION WITH AND FOR MOVING THE HANDS IN PROPER SWEEPING RELATION TO SAID FACE OF THE PANEL, SAID FLEXIBLE HOUR AND MINUTE HANDS BEING OF A MINERAL SUCH THAT THEY WILL OPERATE WHEN THE SAID PANEL IS IN SAID BENT CONDITION. 